This multi-institutional study will prospectively collect tumor and constitutional tissue samples from patients with diffuse brainstem glioma and other types of brainstem gliomas either during therapy or at autopsy to perform an extensive analysis of genetic and molecular abnormalities in these tumors.

Validation of results of the genome-wide analysis [ Time Frame: at autopsy ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Tissue samples will be obtained at autopsy.

Mutations in candidate tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes as assessed by direct sequencing analysis of tumor DNA [ Time Frame: at autopsy ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Tissue samples will be obtained at autopsy.

Confirmation of the tumor-specific nature of candidate tumor-suppressor gene and oncogene mutation as assessed by the correspondent constitutional DNA [ Time Frame: at autopsy ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Tissue samples will be obtained at autopsy.

Confirmation of genomic gains or losses as assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) performed on tissue microarray (TMA) using non-neoplastic brain tissue [ Time Frame: at autopsy ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Tissue samples will be obtained at autopsy.

Protein expression patterns as assessed by immunohistochemistry or western blot compared to normal brain stem tissue [ Time Frame: at autopsy ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Tissue samples will be obtained at autopsy.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Assess aspects associated with this procedure, including potential benefits and drawbacks [ Time Frame: at autopsy ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Tissue samples will be obtained at autopsy.

Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA

tumor and constitutional tissue samples from patients with diffuse brainstem glioma and other types of brainstem gliomas

fresh-frozen and fixed tumor samples and correspondent normal tissue from patients affected with this tumor.(peripheral blood is applicable only to patients with focal brainstem gliomas and patients who undergo biopsy of a diffuse brainstem glioma at diagnosis)

Detailed Description:

Since very little is known about the biology of diffuse brainstem glioma, the goal of this protocol is to undertake a systematic analysis of DNA abnormalities, and of RNA and protein expression in prospectively collected fresh-frozen and fixed tumor samples and correspondent normal tissue from patients affected with this tumor.

Validate the results of the genome-wide analysis by conducting further evaluation of candidate genes or by investigating the expression of relevant gene products at the RNA and protein levels.

Perform analysis of mutations in candidate tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes (including whole genome sequencing studies) using direct sequence analysis of tumor DNA and confirm the tumor-specific nature of these mutations by analyzing the correspondent constitutional DNA.

Confirm genomic gains or losses identified by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) performed on tissue microarray using non-neoplastic brain tissue from each patient as control when available.

Explore protein expression patterns identified by immunohistochemistry or western blot and compare them to normal brain stem tissue.

To obtain a follow-up (questionnaire and/or telephone interview) after autopsy with parent(s), legal guardian(s), or family members of research participants in the United States to assess aspects associated with this procedure, including potential benefits and drawbacks

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

up to 18 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Fresh-frozen and fixed tumor samples and correspondent normal tissue from patients affected with this tumor (peripheral blood is applicable only to patients with focal brainstem gliomas and patients who undergo biopsy of a diffuse brainstem glioma at diagnosis)

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Patients of any age with clinical and radiologic diagnosis of diffuse brainstem glioma

Patients with other high-grade gliomas originating in the brainstem

Patients with focal gliomas (WHO grade I/II) of the brainstem

Enrollment in the current version of the St. Jude Tissue Bank protocol for patients whose tissue samples were obtained at diagnosis and who received treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH), or correspondent tissue banking consent for patients treated in other institutions if tissue was obtained prior to death (as applicable, depending on the standard of each institution)

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00899834